1月19日

岳陽樓記
宋 范仲淹 ( 989~1052 )

不以物喜，不以己悲，
居廟堂之高，則憂其民；
處江湖之遠，則憂其君。
是進亦憂，退亦憂；
然則何時而樂耶？
其必曰：
「先天下之憂而憂，後天下之樂而樂乎！」

──選自《范文正集》

January 19th

Yueyang Pavilion
Fan Zhongyan (989 - 1052, Song Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

Do not take pleasure in material goods,
Do not express pity for oneself.

Occupiers of the palace hall worry for their people;
Dwellers of remote districts worry for their ruler.

Progress causes worry,
Retreat likewise causes worry;
Exactly when will a moment of happiness come?

It is when one is able to
Regard as one's top concern the state's affairs,
And place as one's last goal one's own enjoyments.

── from Fan Wenzheng Ji (Collection of Fan's Literary Works)